Public university staff to go on strike this Monday

By Agnes Mwangangi

University Unions have issued a strike notice beginning Monday next week citing failure by the government to offer a counter proposal on their 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The move follows a meeting of the Inter-Public Universities Consultative Council Forum (IPUCCF) with leaders of the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA).

The Unions say they will commence a country-wide strike if the government fails to give a counter-offer to their demands.

KUSU General Secretary Charles Mukhwaya said the three unions gave their CBA proposal to the IPUCCF on March 3rd last year but has not received a counter-proposal to date.

He said University staff last got a salary increment in July 2010.

The impending strike threat comes with health services crippled in nearly all the 47 Counties due to a doctors strike.